Trappers Stung by Late-Inning Comeback
July 3, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
Center fielder Julio Ramirez' double in the top of the ninth inning scored Wil Nieves with the winning run as the Salt Lake Stingers came back from a 2-0 deficit to down the Edmonton Trappers 4-2 Thursday afternoon at TELUS Field. The come-from-behind win by the Stingers gave them a split of the four-game series and moved them to within three games of first-place Trappers. Edmonton ended the eight-game homestand with a 5-3 record and moved into top spot in the North Division of the Pacific Coast League in the process. The Trappers received another stellar outing from starter Seung Song, who tossed 6.2 scoreless innings on Thursday afternoon, but they managed only five hits off Salt Lake pitching, only hit more than the season-low. The Trappers begin a six-game road trip in Portland on Friday night against the second-place Beavers.
Song got into trouble in the first inning as second baseman Trent Durrington singled with one out and Robb Quinlan reached on an error by centerfielder Peter Bergeron. The right-hander worked his way out of that jam and was never in series trouble after that. Salt Lake starter and former Trapper Steve Green matched Song for the first three innings. One of only 10 Canadians to ever play for Edmonton, Green yielded just one hit and one walk in the first three frames. The Trappers finally broke the scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Terrmel Sledge led off with a single to right field, but was erased when Luis Ortiz lined into a double play. Valentino Pascucci drew a walk and Matt Cepicky followed with a double to the gap in right-center field that plated Pascucci with the first run of the game. Scott Hodges then singled to left field, scoring Cepicky with Edmonton's second run of the contest. Green went 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks, while fanning two batters. He was replaced by Doug Nickle (2-2), who earned the win with three scoreless frames, in the sixth inning.
Going into the seventh inning Song had retired seven consecutive batters and had allowed only one runner to reach second base after the first frame. He retired Gary Johnson on a ground out, but Keith Johnson singled to center and Nieves reached on a two-out base hit to left field that put runners on first and second and spelled the end for Song. Kevin Joseph (2-6) came on in relief of Song and got Ramirez to pop out to end the seventh, but Adonis Harrison led off the eighth inning with an infield single and Durrington followed with a home run off the scoreboard in left field to tie the game at two. The Trappers had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning as Bergeron and Sledge drew walks to put runners at first and second, but Nickle struck out Ortiz to end that threat. Nieves singled through the left side of the infield to lead off the ninth inning for Salt Lake and Ramirez followed with his game-winning double off the wall in left field. He later scored on a sacrifice fly by Harrison. The Trappers brought the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the inning as Cepicky and Hodges drew one-out walks, but Salt Lake closer Bart Miadich got pinch-hitter Ryan Balfe to fly out and then struck out Jake Thrower to end the game.
Highlights:
Trappers: Are 25-18 at TELUS Field.are 35-5 when leading after seven innings.lost for the sixth time in the opponents last at-bat.are 12-6 in the last 18 games.are 10-6 against the North Division.lead the PCL with a .299 team batting average.the season series is tied, 2-2.the Stingers lead the all-time series, 58-57.
RHP Seung Song: Did not get a decision despite tossing 6.2 scoreless innings.yielded five hits and one walk, while fanning three batters.also tossed 2 wild pitches.only one Salt Lake baserunner reached third base.lowered his ERA with the Trappers to 2.50.
Alumni Report:
RHP Jason Simontacchi (STL) vs. SF: Earned the win to run his record to 6-4 as the Cardinals downed the Giants 9-5 Thursday afternoon.allowed five runs on seven this and one walks, while fanning five in 6.0 innings.has posted a 6.64 ERA this season.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 3, 2003
- Whiteman powers Express past Diablos - Round Rock Express
- River Cats Return Home Tomorrow for Six-Game Homestand - Sacramento River Cats
- Sounds Silence Zephyr Offense, 1-0 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Two Former Beavers Named to PCL All-Centennial Team - Portland Beavers
- Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular - Memphis Redbirds
- Trappers Stung by Late-Inning Comeback - Edmonton Trappers
- PCL Announces All-Centennial Team - PCL1
- Beavers start six-game stand with a bang - Portland Beavers
- Cubs pound Sky Sox 16-3 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Topolski turns tables on Diablos - Round Rock Express
- First Place Trappers Edge Stingers - Edmonton Trappers
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